The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is the central body for formulating, coordinating, and promoting biomedical research in India. The ICMR is building capacity in  bioethics which is relevant to Indian ethos, with special emphasis on research ethics related to genetics, drug development (including traditional medicine), public health ethics and social sciences, and international research ethics. ICMR has initiated a Bioethics Education program for India, which includes the topics mentioned above under the project funded by Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, USA.

Objectives

  To develop a working system for program direction through a  National Task  Force.

  To develop a centrally coordinated Bioethics network of faculty among ICMR and non-ICMR Institutions to disseminate bioethics education.

  To develop capacity in bioethics education through a training program based on a uniform national bioethics curriculum.

  To develop a system of evaluation to modify the curriculum on an ongoing basis through feedback. 

Program

The Course is designed to address the most challenging issues in bioethics. It provides an opportunity for the participants from different disciplines to come together to interact with distinguished faculty to explore how the theoretical framework can address practical issues of bioethics. The specific aim of the course is to increase awareness about ethical guidelines and regulations in India which should be followed when human participants are involved in biomedical research etc. The course will sensitize the researchers including policy makers and build capacity in research ethics and ethical review mechanism. A distance education program also will be launched. The program will enable the participants to apply bioethical principles for decision making in research, clinical and policy settings.